10 Unique Ways to Utilise 3D Printing
The process of printing in 3D is essentially the ability to be able to create three-dimensional objects based on a digital image. The practical applications of this technology have proven far reaching, and it seems that 3D printing may have made life easier for us in more ways than one.
Art
Extremely complex art can now be made simply and easily thanks to 3D printing and a process called laser sintering.
Jewellery
“Investment casting” has been making use of 3D printing to create easy ways for jewellers to replicate a piece. A company called Paragon Lake has been instrumental in helping people make the most of this technology.
Promoting Your Products Before They Launch
For your product launch to be effective, you’ll want people to be expecting it by the time it actually arrives. There are all sorts of ways you can build the hype. You should look at your product launch as being one part of a greater promotional effort, and ensure you’re doing all the important lead-up promo work so that the launch is explosive. The following are a few ways you can get your new product all the attention it deserves in the lead-up to launch day.
Teaser campaigns
A really effective way to hype your product and build public interest before it’s launched is to run a teaser marketing campaign surrounding the launch. Putting up posters, stickers and so forth announcing that something big is going to happen — along with a company logo — will tap into people’s curiosity and make them want to know more. As you get closer to the launch date, use your teaser campaign to gradually reveal more about the product design and development — but don’t reveal too much, as you’ll still want it to be a surprise on the day.
Creating Unique Products for Your Business
Coming up with product ideas for your business that are creative and unique can be a hard task when it seems like everything has already been created, so you’re going to have to come up with ways to bend your mind a little. The best product ideas are often the simplest, so try and get back to the basics of your business and see if there is perhaps a product missing from your line-up. The following ideas will help you start getting creative.
Experiment
One of the big keys to coming up with creative and unique products for your business is to not be afraid to experiment. Trying new things may lead to a new discovery or a unique product design, one that you wouldn’t have come up with had you not been willing to try something new. If you’re going to experiment, make sure that you perfect your new methods and techniques before you release your product, as it may take a little tinkering before it’s ready.
7 Advantages of Plastic Pallets over Wooden Pallets
Every product you see at any store was probably delivered on a pallet. There are many different types of pallets, with wood and plastic being the most common. Thanks to plastic injection moulding, plastic pallets are designed for both space-efficiency and durability.
Whether you’re moving or plan on opening a store, you can use plastic pallets to ship everything from furniture to clothes. There are many reasons why you should choose plastic over wood.
Here are seven advantages that plastic pallets offer over wooden pallets:
1. They Are Lighter And Easier To Transport
If you need to transport products, you won’t have to pay a lot of shipping and handling costs with plastic pallets like you would with wooden pallets. Plastic pallets are about 30% – 35% lighter. If you’re ordering 500 pounds of products, you will be paying as much as 35% less if they are shipped on plastic pallets rather than wooden pallets.
How is a Toothbrush Made? An Overview of the Design Process
Whenever you brush your teeth, do you ever stop and wonder how your toothbrush was made? Thanks to plastic injection moulding, thousands of toothbrushes are made every day. A toothbrush may seem like a simple plastic object, but it’s an essential tool for oral health. Without toothbrushes, we would be susceptible to cavities, gum disease and mouth cancer.
History of Toothbrushes
Toothbrushes have come a long way over the centuries. Since 3500 BC, people around the world have been using tools to clean their teeth. Egyptians and Babylonians made brushes by fraying the end of twigs. In the 15th century, the Chinese invented the first toothbrush by attaching bristles from pigs’ necks onto a bamboo handle. The design was adapted by Europeans, who modified the design using soft horsehairs.
The 8 Most Important Types of Plastic
Plastic injection moulding is a booming industry. Almost every product in the 21st century requires plastic in one form or another. The invention of plastic was one of the greatest achievements in industrial production due to the fact that it’s synthetic and not limited in nature.
Here are the eight most important types of plastic and their uses:
- Saran
Also known as Polyvinylidine Chloride, Saran was discovered by accident in 1933. The United States Air Force sprayed it on fighter planes to keep them protected against salty sea spray. In those days, it had an ugly colour and foul odour. Now, it’s mostly known for the creation of Saran wrap.
- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
PVC is the third most widely used plastic. It’s primarily used in construction because it’s easy to work with, cheap, and durable. A softer form is made for use in upholstery, clothing, and inflatable products. PVC can even be used to replace rubber.
How Is a Trophy Made?
One of the most popular uses of plastic injection moulding is the creation of trophies. Trophies are used in just about every industry; everyone from celebrities to students receive trophies as awards. They are physical evidence that a person or group of people has done something spectacular.
They range from inexpensive to very, very expensive. But how are they made?
Here is an overview of the creation and moulding process:
- Each part of a trophy is designed separately. Each part goes through a design process. An assembler selects components to put the trophy together. The pieces include: a base, column(s), the riser, and the figurine. Some trophies have an additional tier on top of the columns. A trophy can have a single column or three or four.
- The product development team works on the concept. The manufacturers conduct research, talk to customers, and brainstorm ideas. Customer opinion and current trends play a role in the production of a trophy. The product development team consists of designers, graphic artists, sculptors, and engineers.
How is a Frisbee Made?
If you are interested in product design and have a creative streak in you, then you have no doubt stared at many different products wondering how they are created. In this article we are going to discuss the traditional and ever popular Frisbee.
The first Frisbee was created nearly 40 years ago and today it is one of the most popular toys for men, women and children of all ages. Mattel, one of the world’s leading toy companies, has reported that more than 90% of the U.S. population has used a Frisbee at one time or another.
The actual origin of the Frisbee is quite interesting. It originates from a bakery called the Frisbee Pie Company in New Haven, Connecticut. This bakery was established shortly after the civil war. During their time of operation, the drivers, employees and even local students took to tossing the pie plates around. This is how the term Frisbee has come to define the action of tossing a disc through the air.
7 Tips for a More Effective Product Design Process
If you are interested in product design and the overall design process, you are probably already aware that there is far more to the process than simply creating an object. This process involves a great deal of creativity as well as the ability to look at a problem from a non-linear perspective.
If you are up to the challenge, we have collected seven tips that can help you create a more efficient design process:
1. Why Are You Designing This Product?
Asking this question is the first vital step in the design process. You need to fully understand why you are creating the desired product, the problem for consumer that you hope to address by creating it, and how specifically it will solve that said problem.
Six Frequently Asked Questions about Plastic Design
Are you currently involved in a form of product design and are looking to have some of your questions answered? We have an up to date and accurate list of frequently asked questions in the field of plastic design that can help you start any of your projects on the right foot. After reading through these FAQs you will have all the information you need to get started and can avoid the hiccups that often occur during complex projects.
1. How do I reduce the thickness of my mould?
If you finish your mould and find that the walls are just too thick, the solution is simple – ribs. Ribbing can help increase the rigidity of the mould as well as the elasticity. Ribbing is a simple technical skill that once learned can greatly benefit your craft.